English Christian male who is not backward in coming forward with opinions.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Cameron, Brown and Clegg Must Answer for Illegality of Sexual Equalities Agenda in Schools

Christian Peoples Alliance (CPA) party says,'Plans by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to impose theirsexual equalities agenda on schools are being contested in the May local electionsby candidates standing for the Christian Peoples Alliance (CPA) party. Followingstatements this year by David Cameron and Nick Clegg that they support Labour'splans for relationships outside of heterosexual marriage to be taught as normativeto schoolchildren, the CPA is urging parents to assert their legal right for children tobe brought up in conformity with their own Christian ethical stance. The party ispledging that if elected, its councillors will fight to uphold Christian rights ofconscience in all schools.

Speaking at a meeting this weekend in Kensington of the National Executive of theChristian Peoples Alliance, party leader, Cllr Alan Craig of Newham Council said:

"The leaders of our three main parties - Gordon Brown, David Cameron and NickClegg - have set themselves in favour of a sexual rights agenda that is opposed to2,000 years of Church teaching. They seek to collapse Christian morality into arelatavistic heap - sowing confusion and worsening the problem of breakdown Britain. We know sexual relationships happen outside of marriage and SRE must be taughtwith wisdom, respect and sensitivity. But what children need is a clear message:sex is a gift intended by God for a life-long marriage between one man and one woman.All other relationships are less than God's best."

Under new Government guidelines issued this week, all schools - including faith schools - will be legally required to provide classes in sex and relationships. From the age of 11,pupils will be encouraged to debate issues surrounding sexual orientation, same-sexrelationships and civil partnerships.

The Christian Peoples Alliance is pointing out that Conservatives, Labour and LiberalDemocrats oppose the biblical guidance that the primary responsibility for educationlies with parents, which is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asarticle 26.3 'Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be givento their children.' They also point out that the secular parties also risk infringing Protocol 1of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It provides that the state shall inexercising its functions in relation to education and teaching, "respect the right of parents toensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religion and philosophicalconvictions".

The Department for Schildren, Schools and Families announced last year that it will takeforward all the major recommendations of the Teenage pregnancy Independent AdvisoryGroup, including making Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) statutory from 2011. Italso declared that parents' right to pull their children out of sex education classes in Englandwill be ended once pupils turn 15. Under government plans for SRE, all schools includingchurch schools must: "teach all aspects of SRE within the context of relationships in an anti-discriminatory way; contraception, abortion and homosexuality are all legal in this country....." The Government's review of SRE also requires schools to make "explicit links to youngpeople's advisory services and provision of contraception and sexual health services anddemonstrate this by teaching people how to access services."

Councillor Craig - who leads the Opposition on Newham Borough Council added:

"All parents have a prior right to bring their children up according to their own values. Yet thesecular parties want to impose an alien morality on all children, even Christian children. It isdeeply troubling and illiberal for parents who seek to teach the ideals of faithfulness, purityand respect for life to their children in the home, to have teachers then totally undermineChristian morality by teaching the ambiguity of "anything goes" sex in the classroom."'